SDSU’s Master of Fine Arts Musical Theatre Program teamed up with La Jolla Playhouse to develop a new musical, following their collaboration on the reading of BD Wong’s musical, "Mr. Doctor," last February.

This year, after a competitive selection process, the musical "On the Eve" was chosen for a public staged reading on Nov. 19 in SDSU’s Experimental Theatre.

About "On the Eve"

"On the Eve" is a whimsical, sci-fi musical that imagines a dystopian future where time travel is embraced via hot-air balloons. In the play, the fictional theatre company attempts to avoid apocalyptic doom by presenting the same show they have performed every night for years.

Set in a run-down theatre with Marie Antoinette arriving via balloon from the past, the company battles stereotypes and status quo to find that their tired performance bleeds into reality and provides hope for the theatre company.

"On the Eve" was written by Michael Federico with music and lyrics by Seth and Shawn Magill of the indie rock band, Home by Hovercraft. SDSU Professor Stephen Brotebeck will direct the reading and Professor Robert Meffe will provide musical direction.

Award-winning new musical

"On the Eve" was first produced in a staged-reading workshop in 2011, advancing to a ten-show production at Margo Jones Theatre in Dallas in 2012. The 2013 DFW Theatre Critics Forum awarded it Best New Play or Musical, and Best Creative Contribution for Score. It received The Column Awards’ 2014 Steve Lovett Award for Outstanding New Work by a Local Playwright.

"On the Eve" arrived at SDSU following a presentation at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s 2015 Festival of New Musicals in New York City.

The La Jolla Playhouse collaboration is just one example of how the MFA in Musical Theatre program at SDSU is unique in its integration of performance training with academic study and a recognized leader in the industry.

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